Flexible mat.



UNIT-ED STATES Patented February 14, 1905.

PATENT'v OFFICE.

OSCAR F. GRANT AND JOHN G. MCDOWEIIL, OF PITTSBURG, PENN- l SYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE NIAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,606, dated February 14,1905.

Application filed July ll, 1904:. Serial No. 216,020.

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that we, OSCAR F. GRANT and JOHN G. MCDOWELL, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Flexible Mat, of which the follow-l ing is a full, clear, and exact description, rei'- erence being had to the accompanying drawings, formlng part of thisvspeciiication, in

Which- In the drawings, Fig. 2 shows the bent strip forming the basis of the structure. This consists of a 'short metal strip bent into triangle.

form, with the side 2 preferably having a jog or odset, as shown at 3, and the hypotenuse 4 having a right-angle portion 5 to receive the pivot and also an end portion 6, which is parallel with the side 2. A pivot-hole 7 is provided in the oiset portion 3, aregistering hole 8 is provided in the portion 5, and a hole 9 is formed through the end of the side 2 and the portion 6 of the hypotenuse. f

In assembling the triangular sections the portion 5 of one section is placed in line with the oiset 3 of the next to form a cross row or unit, and the-endsof the leg 2 and the part 6 from the triangle of the next row it between the part 3 and part 5. This gives four thicknesses at the pivot-point, and the pivots may be formed bythe transverse hinge-rods 10 or by separate rivets or pivots at the joints. The entire mat may be formed in this manner, in which case the diagonals A of the meshes would all be parallel. We prefer, however, in order to increase the strength 4and rubbing power as well as the attractiveness of the mat to divide the mat into four sections formed by the longitudinal and transverse axes. In each quarter-section the diagonals 4 of the meshes eX- tend at a diiferent angle from those of the other three sections, thus giving the eiect of a series' of concentric squares or rectangles starting at the center and growing larger in size toward the edges. In order to" so arrange the meshes, we preferably provide a central transverse unit formed ofthe bent pieces shown in Fig. 3. Suchv piece is similar to the form of Fig. 2, except that the portion 6 of the hypotenuse is lextended to form a transverse portion 11 at right angles to the part 2 and provided with an end lug 12, having a hole 13. By using the central cross-'rowof this form the meshes on one side ofthe mat may be reversed from those on the other without leaving any open ends. In order to make each portion of the mat on the sides of this central unit symmetrical on both sides, We preferably use the central row of'straight strips 14. (Shown in Fig. 4.) These strips are provided with holes at each end and are located along the longitudinal central axis of the mat. On one side of this axis the diagonal portions 4 extend at one angle, and at the other side they extend at the opposite angle. The hinge-rods extend through the end holes of these strips, as wel-l as through the holes 7, 8, and 9 of the triangular pieces and the four holes of the special pieces of Fig. 3. In this manner We obtain the attractive appearance of the concentric squares or rectangles. over, no special iinish is required for any edge of the mat. y

At the end row or cross unit the offset portion 3 may be done away with, as shown at y the top of Fig. 1, or a Washer or washers 15 may `be placed between this unit and the next piece around the hinge-rod, as shown at the bottom of Fig. 1.

The ends or' the hinge-rod may be secured in any desired manner. `We have shown two ofV the hinge-rods as integrally united at one 4end by the cross-piece 17, while their other ends are hooked or twisted together; but the arrangement of these rods may be varied in` many'ways, and rivets or other pivoting devices may be used.

vIt is evident that in the mat shown in Fig. l any .quarter-section Would in and of itself form a complete mat, this quarter-section having one longitudinal edge formed by the strips 14 and one end formed by the special shapes of Fig. 3.

The advantages of our invention result from the use of the triangular strip, a series of which form the transverse unit ofthe mat. This provides a diagonal brace for each open mesh and gives strength and durability. There is no strip With a free end, both ends being perforated for the hinge rod or pivot. In the preferred form, as shown, the mat affords transverse rubbing-surfaces no matter at What angle the shoe strikes it. The mat is braced in all directions and presents an attractive appearance.

Variations may be made in the form and arrangement of the triangular pieces, the edge finish` the hinging of the units, zac., without departing from our invention.

1. A flexible metallic mat containing short metal strips bent to form and extend around the sides of a substantially triangular mesh, said strips being arranged side by side to form a unit, one of such units being hinged to the next; substantially as described.

2. A iiexible metallic mat containing a short metal strip bent to form and extend around the sides of a substantially triangular mesh, said strip containing at least three pivot-holes; substantially` as described. y

3. A flexible metallic mat containing bent strips of general triangular form, each strip having the end of one leg and-the end of the diagonal fitted together and perforated to receive a pivot; substantially as described.

4. A flexible metallic mat containing bent strips of general triangular form With pivotholes adjacent to the juncture of one leg and the hypotenuse with the other leg, and pivotholes at the outer end of the diagonal and one leg; substantially as described.

5. A flexible metallic mat containing metal strips bent to form open meshes of general square or rectangular form, said meshes containing diagonal strips extending across the inclosure; substantially as described.

6. A flexible metallic mat composed of short metal strips bent to form and extend around the sides of a substantially triangular mesh, the diagonals of the triangular meshes being arranged atdifferent angles around the center of the mat to form concentric squares or rectangles; substantially as described.

7. A flexible metallic mat having bent pieces of general triangular form, arranged side by OSCAR F. GRANT. JOHN G. MCDOWELL.

Witnesses:

L. A. CONNER, Jr., H. M. CoRWIN. 

